This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
Published on August 5, 2019, a directive by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the Kenya Ports Authority has sparked controversy among truck owners in Kenya.
The Kenya Transporters Association has vowed to challenge the directive, which requires all importers to use the Standard Gauge Railway to transport cargo from the Port of Mombasa to the inland container depot in Nairobi for clearance.
According to the directive, only goods destined for Mombasa and its environs will be allowed to be transported by road, a move that has been met with opposition from transporters who argue that it will cripple their business.
The Kenya Transporters Association has called for further engagement with the Kenya Ports Authority, but with the directive set to come into force on Wednesday, there is doubt as to how much can be achieved.
Transporters fear that if implemented, the policy could lead to job losses, as every day a thousand trucks leave the port of Mombasa to various destinations in the country and the larger East African region.
The government, however, says the directive is an attempt to fast-track clearance of cargo at the port as well as de-congest the facility to improve efficiency.
Earlier, a similar directive was challenged by freight station owners and truckers, leading to a suspension of the policy.
